Great shortage of medicines in the occupied territories as Russian Federation blocks delivery attempts - Liashko

There is a huge shortage of medicines in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Even saline is scant.

Source: Viktor Liashko, Minister of Health, 24/7 national joint news broadcast, 31 May

According to Liashko, thus far no humanitarian corridor has been organised to allow the Ukrainian side to deliver medicine to health care facilities under occupation.

Quote from Liashko: "We have communicated with the head doctors, and today we know that there is a problem even with saline supply. Medicines that we have brought in with a large stock, for example, for the treatment of cancer patients and dialysis patients, are still available."

Recently, the issue of entering the occupied territories has become much more complicated. Liashko noted that occupying forces even shelled volunteers while trying to deliver medicines to hospitals.

"For example, in Kherson Oblast. Volunteers who help the ministry import medicines are also being shelled there. Unfortunately, there were fatalities. Therefore, we can't risk people, and volunteers won’t agree to do it," Liashko said.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine is currently communicating with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Health Organisation to force Russia to take action under the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War.

"It clearly states that the occupation regime is obligated to provide health care facilities with medicines, because they must perform their functions, regardless of what is happening," the head of the department said.

Viktor Liashko also noted that currently 235 Ukrainian hospitals continue to operate under Russian occupation.